Aircraft Projects of the CAC

■ The lack of preparedness of the RAAF between the wars, the manner in which the Air Force beholden to the strings of Empire was having its aircraft orders placed in the UK delayed, deferred or halved was causing alarm to the Government that had tried for 14 years to start a local aviation industry.

In 1935 with a capital of £1M (A$99M in current values) six leading Australian industrial groupings offered to establish an aircraft and aero engine manufacturing base for urgent and patriotic reasons expecting only a 4-5 per cent return.

A technical evaluation mission sent abroad to take in ideas and concepts settled on the impressive USA industry examples using metal fabrication (away from fabric, wood and wire).

Fearing a loss of their market, the English aviation press derided the adoption of American products.

The empty sandy expanse at Fisherman’s Bend, Port Melbourne, a short distance from the city adjacent to the Yarra River, became a new landing ground, aircraft and piston aero engine factories, foundries and engine test cells for the first mass production military aviation complex … the totally private Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation

Work started in February 1937 with the flight of its first aircraft, the CAC Wirraway, training aircraft in March 1939 followed by 754 more examples. Trainers, fighters

Crossword Solution No 26

and two bomber prototypes and the superb CA-15 new fighter were built.

The wartime workforce in January 1944 numbered 7400. It delivered 1290 aircraft to war’s end.

Work ran out so CAC built buses, metal baths, kit homes, pressure kettles to keep the factories open and functioning.

Jet engines were now the new way, a new basic trainer was developed, Sabre jet fighter production and its RR engine started.

New aerodynamics and metallurgy saw very many aircraft concepts, proposals and ideas evaluated commensurate with its factory size and capacity to build trainer aircraft, small airliners and missile storage and handling systems.

The Italian MB326 advanced jet trainer and its English engine were built under licence; parts of the French Mirage fighter and its French supersonic engine were also built and serviced.

Helicopter production for the Army and Navy followed. Systems updates for various RAAF aircraft types were undertaken as was collaborative aircraft design with the UK industry.

The West Gate Bridge built across the Yarra closed the runways. A reduction in local aviation work was partly replaced by overseas needs.

The 1985 merger with HDH was followed by a succession of rapid takeovers ending with Boeing. The site was demolished by 2000. CAC was an employer of thousands of Melbourne people. Fathers, brothers, sons, mothers, know somebody who worked there over the decades.

This book sets out to document the built aircraft and the ideas and concepts that might have been, if the shareholders and management had acted differently and bravely.

ISBN 9780645185904

Available online print-on- demand from: booktopia.com.au; Fishpond.com.au ; Dymocks.com.au javella@tpg.com.au

RRP $65. 405 pages, 506Mb, A4 format, colour.

WASTE MOTTO TRACE EMAILED

N VERSA E SEE U HOI G ROWDY M V

E YESES VODKA CRESS O RABIES

I NICK N TOGA I MUSH E YOGI U R

O SHUI ALSORAN ORGY D AGENTS

R ODDLY A Q Z U O C D R SWEDE O W

L INSURERS GLOWERED O NOOSE

O OCTET C E T A U U S G DRAPE K E

C PINT TINIEST

■ A Scone trained filly, Opal Ridge, has shot to favourtism, for the Tatts Tiara, after one of the best wins you could see in winning the Darby Munro Stakes at Rosehill back on March 18.

The daughter of speed machine Rubick came from second last at the 600 metres in a big field to win running away.

Prepared by Scone trainer Luke Pepper, she looked sensational in running away over the 1200 metres, and will even be better suited over the 1400 metres here.

Another filly that appears to be all class is the Victorian, Ruthless Dame. Prepared by two of Australia’s best trainers, Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, she, Opal Ridge, absolutely blitzed them in the Sangster Stakes over 1200 metres on May 6.

By leading sire Tavistock, she’s had only a few starts before winning at Morphettiville. She is going to be in this all the way here.

Another top Victorian galloper is the fiveyear-old mare, Foxy Pride, who is in a winning vein at present, making it two on end, with a magnificent win in the Magic Millions National Classic over 1600 metres, at Eagle Farm.

Ridden superbly by Victorian hoop, Gerald Egan, he was as calm as a mouse, as he waited for her to click in, and that she did.

She is now in my opinion, the one to beat, with everything in her favour, and she doesn’t mind it wet either.

She is trained by leading Victorian trainer, Andrew Noblet.

The runner-up to her, Kiku, prepared by Chris Waller, also ran well finishing second.

One that has already been supported is Chaillot, prepared in partnership by Steve O’Dea and Matt Hoysted.

She finished hard to run fifth in the recent Kingsford Smith Cup over 1300 metres at Eagle Farm running a strong fifth, and the money has come for her.

The Snowden combination of Peter and Paul consistently train winners, and they have another good one entered here in Sheeza Belter, who won the J.J. Atkins last year.

She was way up in class in contesting the All Star Mile at the Valley, but on her day is smart, has got to be a chance.

Another who is top class, but has had a lot racing recently is the Ciaron Maher-David Eustace trained good mare, Bella Nipotina, now five.

At her last outing in the Sangster Stakes she raced like that she had had enough, after a solid run coming for well back in the Quokka in Western Australia, after a hard run coming form near last after missing the start.

She is a winner of the Manikato at the Valley, and is all class.

Next is the Chris Waller prepared Hinged, who can put in a good run against the best.

At her last outing she ran a good fourth in the Queen of The Turf Stakes at Randwick behind stablemate, Atishu.

Her run in the Ranvet when fourth to top international galloper Dubai Honour, and Anamoe, was a big run, and from the extreme barrier of 20, over 1600 metres.

She has won nearly a million and half dollars